TORRINGTON >> Rep. Michelle Cook (D-Torrington) was honored Friday, Sept. 2, as one of 29 Children’s Champions by the CT Early Childhood Alliance. Cook represents the 65th District in the House of Representatives.

The Alliance is a statewide organization committed to improving outcomes in the areas of learning, health, safety, and economic security for children ages birth to eight. Every year, the Alliance recognizes legislators who worked closely with early childhood advocates to shape legislation that impacts the well-being of Connecticut’s young children in the areas of healthy development, early care and education, nutrition, and safety.

The ceremony was held at Torrington Child Care Center, 338 Kennedy Drive, Torrington.

Cook was first elected to the 65th District in 2008 and is serving her fourth term in office and her second term as a Deputy Majority Leader. Rep. Cook also serves as a member of the Aging, Education, Human Services, Legislative Management, and Public Health Committees.

According to her website, Cook has been an outspoken supporter for issues involving children and families. In 2010 she worked to reform Connecticut’s domestic violence laws. Cook was recognized as a Children’s Champion by the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. In 2011 and 2014 she was named the alliance’s Legislator of the Year.

She is also a member of the Medicare Managed Care Committee and the Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH) Subcommittee. PCMH is a program for health care providers and families seeking quality and affordable health care.

Cook has also been a longtime advocate on behalf of seniors and persons with mental health and substance abuse issues. In 2010 she was named the Homecare and Hospice Legislator of the Year. She serves on the advisory council for Prime Time House which assists adults with serious mental illness find employment, education and housing.

In 2011, she was named Legislator of the Year by the Northwest Regional Mental Health Board. Additionally, the Substance Abuse Action Council also recognized her as their Legislator of the Year for her work in 2011 to classify and ban salvia and synthetic marijuana as controlled substances.

In 2013, Cook was named a chair of the Municipal Opportunities Regional Efficiencies (M.O.R.E.) Commission’s Special Education working group which aims to improve special education in the state. She was also named a chair in 2013 to the Restraining Order Task Force. The task force was formed to study policies, procedures and regulations related to the service of restraining orders with an aim to offer opportunities for improvement.

For the past 18 years, Cook has also been active in her community. She is a member of the Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative an organization committed to enhancing the quality of early childhood education. In 2002 she founded the Torrington High School Parent Teacher Organization. For the past eighteen years she has served as the Director of Public Relations for special events for Torrington’s collegiate summer baseball team.

She has volunteered as a Girl Scouts leader and currently serves as a board member for the Girls Scouts of Connecticut. Rep. Cook has also been a softball, baseball and basketball coach for many years.

Cook holds a B.S. in Sociology and Psychology from Missouri Baptist University and has completed coursework towards a Master’s Degree in Special Education at Central Connecticut State University.